you know that muscle loss in cats can be an external sign of chronic illness, sometimes even years before other signs are apparent to cat owners? Muscle scoring is a useful practice in feline medicine, and adopting it can elevate the standard of feline care and allow earlier detection of chronic disease. The muscle condition score can be incorporated into medical records the same way the body condition score is with every physical examination.

Body condition score vs muscle condition score

These 2 scores are not the same. Cats can be overweight with increased fat deposits (increased body condition) and have muscle loss (low muscle score). Conversely, cats can also be underweight (low body condition) with normal muscle mass (normal muscle score).

 The goal, of course, is for an animal to have both normal body condition and muscle scores.

The muscle condition score is assessed at different sites than the body condition score. To assess the muscle score, start by palpating the epaxial muscles, which are the muscles along the lumbar or thoracic spine on either side.

 This is usually the first group of muscles to atrophy (except for disuse muscle atrophy in a limb).

: The vertebral spinous processes (bony projections on vertebrae) are not palpable, even when pressure is applied. They are covered by normal layers of muscle, fat, and skin. One of the indications of feline health is normal muscle scoring.

: The vertebral spinous processes can be mildly palpated.

: The vertebral spinous processes are moderately prominent on palpation, even without pressure applied. Other bones, such as the scapulae and skull, can also be palpated.

: The vertebral spinous processes are severely prominent. Not only can these bones be easily palpated, but there can be visible indentations along the spine. Other bones, such as the scapulae and skull, are also prominent.

Once muscle loss is identified, the next step is to determine its cause or type.

is age-related muscle loss in cats 11 years and older without the presence of disease.

 Cachexia is the loss of muscle mass from diseases such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), neoplasia, and congestive heart failure.

In these chronic conditions, amino acids from muscles are used as an energy source more so than fat, and there is usually reduced food intake. Other factors, such as inflammatory cytokines, can also play a role.

Additionally, cachexia is a negative prognostic indicator for cats with CKD, and it is usually progressive. In one study, cats were found to have weight loss 3 years before CKD was diagnosed.

Muscle loss is an early and visible indicator of internal disease in cats, a species known for instinctively hiding signs of illness. Detecting muscle loss early enables timely intervention, improving outcomes and allowing for dietary adjustments before the underlying condition becomes severe.

The veterinary team and cat owners can be educated about this valuable tool. Teaching staff how to assess and record muscle scores consistently while also helping cat owners understand the significance fosters a collaborative approach to early disease detection and management.

By incorporating muscle condition scoring into routine feline exams, veterinary professionals can detect illnesses earlier, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance the quality of life for their patients. Let’s make this underutilized tool a standard part of feline care.

Muscle condition score. World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Accessed March 13, 2025. https://wsava.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Muscle-Condition-Score-Chart-for-Cats.pdf

Freeman LM. Cachexia and sarcopenia: emerging syndromes of importance in dogs and cats. 

. 2012;26(1);3-17. doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00838.x

Freeman LM, Lachaud MP, Matthews S, Rhodes L, Zollers B. Evaluation of weight loss over time in cats with chronic kidney disease

. 2016;30(5):1661-1666. doi:10.1111/ jvim.14561

Articles

This useful practice can elevate the standard of feline care and allow earlier detection of chronic disease.

Muscle condition scoring in cats

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2023 and 2024 economic reports, there has been a reported sharp decline in telehealth from 38% to 29.2% in 2024.

 However, despite the decrease, Chewy announced that its telehealth platform, Connect with a Vet, surpassed 1 million consultations last month. Connect with a Vet is a service provided by Chewy that is made up of online veterinarians and technicians. The visits are offered as live online chats or video sessions to help provide clients with answers to their questions and concerns about their pets. These chats are also only supplementary to in-office visits, and the team cannot diagnose or treat conditions or prescribe medications.

"As we approach the 5-year anniversary of this platform and celebrate our first million consultations, I couldn't be prouder of the team driving this success,” said Mita Malhotra, president of Chewy Health.

 “This milestone is a testament to the dedication of the hundreds of employees who make it all possible—from our veterinary experts connecting with pet parents to the team behind the scenes delivering cutting-edge technology and comprehensive online resources for our customers. This is just the beginning, and we remain committed to continuous innovation, improvement, and supporting pet parents when it matters most."

According to the release, the telehealth platform is available to pet parents between 6 AM and 12 AM ET every day of the week to get their questions answered on topics ranging from food and nutrition to skin, behavior, new pet advice, and more.

 Chewy stated in its release that its program is a resource that pet owners can utilize during life crises, from wildfires to hurricanes, to give support to pet parents who need it most, and waives fees for those impacted.

For its 1 millionth consultant, pet parent Kacey utilized the platform to ask about Fish, her cat. Kacey explained that she had a feeling something was going on with her cat and was "trying to determine if she is just chubby or if there’s something else going on." After a veterinary technician reviewed the images submitted to Connect with a Vet and asked about Fish’s health history and diet, it was determined that Fish needed healthy weight management, and the technician gave advice and support to Kacey.

“I really like this service,” Kacey said in an email 

 “In part because they can let me know if a situation is serious and I need to take them to an in-person vet.”

2025 AVMA Report on the Economic State of the Veterinary Profession. 

https://ebusiness.avma.org/ProductCatalog/product.aspx?ID=2215

2024 AVMA Economic State of the Profession. 

https://ebusiness.avma.org/ProductCatalog/product.aspx?ID=2157

Chewy marks 1 million telehealth consultations, a milestone for "Connect with a Vet." News release. Chewy, Inc. March 31, 2025. Accessed April 9, 2025.

More than 1 million consultations have been done through Chewy’s Connect with a Vet telehealth program.

Connect With a Vet reaches significant milestone 

Honeybees serve as agricultural pollinators that are widely managed by commercial beekeepers. They also host pathogens and Varroa mites that can affect a colony’s strength and survival.

Antibiotics approved by the FDA can be used to proactively manage infection and endemic disease occurring in the US and Canada. These target 2 common bacterial diseases: American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB).

There are a dozen antimicrobial drugs approved by the FDA for use in honeybee colonies for AFB and EFB. These all rely on 1 of 3 antibiotics: oxytetracycline, tylosin and lincomycin. These medications—which are also approved for use in other animal species—are required to be ordered or administered by a licensed veterinarian through a prescription or a veterinary feed directive (VFD).

According to the FDA and Jörg Mayer, DVM, MS, DABVP, DECZM, DACZM, professor of zoological medicine at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine in Athens, oxytetracycline is the only FDA-approved antimicrobial for bees that requires a VFD.

“As a broad generalization for the bees: All medically important feed additives require a VFD and all medically important water soluble antibiotics require a prescription,” Mayer said in a lecture at the 2025 Veterinary Meeting and Expo in Orlando, Florida.

Although many individuals primarily view honeybees as food-producing animals, all veterinarians including those in general practice, can care for and prescribe for them, according to Kaitlyn Krebs, DVM, MBA, DABVP (Canine/ Feline), an assistant professor in clinical primary care at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ryan Veterinary Hospital in Philadelphia, as well as a beekeeper. “We don’t really learn about bee medicine in veterinary school…but as veterinarians, we have a responsibility to the bees,” Krebs said in a 

interview at the 2024 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Convention in Austin, Texas.

According to Mayer, when writing a prescription or VFD for honeybees, a veterinarian must be able to diagnose AFB and EFB. “The big problem that veterinarians writing those prescriptions or [VFDs] need to be aware [of is] that there are many states where [AFB] is either a notifiable or reportable disease,” Mayer said in a 

When it comes to prescribing antimicrobials, Lee Pope, DVM, a veterinary consultant for Revelation Animal Health, emphasized the need for veterinarians to be mindful of the honey being created by bees and, like any drug, to provide education for administering proper doses. “The caution with beekeepers and veterinarians treating bees is just to remember [that] this is a food animal species, essentially. So we can’t just grab random medications. We have to be very cautious in what we use [and] how it’s used,” Pope said in a 

interview. “Going over the prescription with the client, about how to give it and giving specific details…[and] being very specific so there’s no gray zone.”

After a beekeeper has obtained a prescription or VFD from a veterinarian, they can work with a distributor of the drug or medicated feed or manufacture their own feed while complying with applicable regulations.

Drugs approved by the FDA for use in honeybee colonies are not typically packed specifically for that purpose. Because these medications are not typically purchased in “unit-of-use containers” appropriate for honeybee use, veterinarians often are required to repackage them to accommodate exact doses that a beekeeper can administer.

Before antibiotics are administered to a honeybee colony, they are often mixed with dry sugar. The compounded mixture is then sprinkled on top of the brood nest at the bottom of the hive.

Pope noted that although more research in the field is anticipated, these medications have been studied with bees. “We know how well it works,” he said.

Mayer noted that beekeepers should be encouraged to reach out to veterinarians if they think they need antibiotics.2 “There are plenty of references and resources available to help everyone work through the process,” he said.

Krebs said continuing education opportunities, industry conference lectures, webinars and online resources are available to professionals seeking information about caring for honeybees.4 “The AVMA has a great handbook for veterinarians who are looking to get into honeybees and there’s the Honey Bee Veterinary Consortium as well that provides a ton of resources for veterinary practitioners. But there’s a ton of other resources out there as well,” she said.

Anderson KE, Allen NO, Copeland DC, et al. A longitudinal field study of commercial honeybees shows that nonnative probiotics do not rescue antibiotic treatment, and are generally not beneficial. 

. 2024;14(1):1954. doi:10.1038/ s41598-024-52118-z

Mayer J. Bee germs: bacterial and fungal diseases in the honeybee. Presented at: Veterinary Meeting & Expo; January 25-29, 2025. Orlando, FL.

Using medically important antimicrobials in bees—questions and answers. FDA. January 3, 2024. Accessed March 18, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/development-approval-process/using-medically-important-antimicrobials-bees-questions-and-answers

Krebs K, Coppock K. Caring for honeybees in general practice. 

. June 21, 2024. Accessed March 18, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/ caring-for-honey-bees-in-general-practice

Richards ED, Tell LA, Davis JL, et al. Honeybee medicine for veterinarians and guidance for avoiding violative chemical residues in honey. 

. 2021;259(8);860-873. doi:10.2460/javma.259.8.860

How to administer antibiotics to a beehive. 

September 10, 2017. Accessed March 18, 2025. https://www. dvm360.com/view/how-to-administer-antibiotics-to-a-beehive

The entire hive can be treated for common bacterial diseases

Caring for honeybees with antimicrobials

Authorities in Warren, Ohio, are investigating a case of antifreeze poisoning of community cats in a mobile home community. It is believed that at least 3 cats were killed by the act.

Following a report on March 26, 2025, humane agents from the nonprofit charity Animal Welfare League (AWL) of Trumbull County in Warren, Ohio, found 3 bowls containing tuna mixed with antifreeze and bleach in an outdoor location at the Blue Water Manor mobile home community in Trumbull County. A bottle of bleach was found discarded near the bowls on the ground.

“All signs point to local community cats, or unowned cats who live outdoors, as the target of deliberate poisoning,” wrote Alley Cat Allies, an advocacy organization for cats, in a news release.

 “Three cats are believed to have consumed the poisoned food and died as a result.”

Ethylene glycol, the active ingredient in antifreeze, is highly toxic to cats. The liquid has a sweet taste that attracts animals. Although many antifreeze products now include a bittering agent, many cats are still not deterred from drinking it.

Just 1 teaspoon of ethylene glycol is enough to poison a cat.

“Cats who ingest the toxin suffer a slow and painful death,” wrote Alley Cat Allies.

Alley Cat Allies is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the prosecution and conviction of those involved in the antifreeze poisoning. Anyone with any information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Trumbull AWL Humane Investigations Department at 330-539-5300 or 

“Alley Cat Allies is working with Trumbull AWL to ensure justice is served for the cats who suffered and died under this act of senseless, disturbing cruelty,” Charlene Pedrolie, president and chief operating officer of Alley Cat Allies, said in the news release.

 “We ask anyone with information to please come forward, for the sake of these cats and the many more whose lives are at risk right now.”

Clinical signs of ethylene glycol poisoning are time- and dose-dependent and can be divided in 3 stages

occurs within 30 minutes to 12 hours of ingestion. During this period, symptoms mimic alcohol intoxication. Cats may exhibit signs of lethargy, vomiting, incoordination, polydipsia, and polyuria. Central nervous system symptoms may also occur, including depression, stupor, ataxia, knuckling, and decreased proprioception.

occurs 12 to 24 hours post-ingestion. Dehydration can occur, along with an elevated heart rate and faster breathing. Some of the signs of toxicity seem to improve drastically in this stage, which may create a false sense of security in pet owners.

also happens 12 to 24 hours after ingestion. At this stage, oliguric acute kidney failure precedes anuria. In the abdomen, painful and enlarged kidneys can be detected. Additional symptoms include tachycardia, tachypnea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, oral ulcers, salivation, lethargy, seizures, coma, and death.

To confirm ethylene glycol poisoning, veterinarians should conduct a point-of-care semiquantitative test or measurement of serum ethylene glycol concentration, perform a physical examination, and look at the patient’s history and laboratory data.

 Treatment consists of intravenous fluid therapy; 4-methylpyrazole (4-MP, fomepizole), 20% ethanol boluses, or 30% ethanol constant-rate infusion; supportive care, including treatment of metabolic derangements; and gastrointestinal support.

Alley Cat Allies offers $10,000 reward for information on deadly antifreeze poisoning of cats in Warren, Ohio. News release. Alley Cat Allies. March 31, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. 

https://www.alleycat.org/alley-cat-allies-offers-10000-reward-for-information-on-deadly-antifreeze-poisoning-of-cats-in-warren-ohio/

Schmid R, Brutlag A, Ruotsalo K, et al. Ethylene glycol poisoning in cats. VCA Animal Hospitals. Accessed April 8, 2025. 

https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/ethylene-glycol-poisoning-in-cats

Regehr T. Ethylene glycol toxicosis in animals. Merck Veterinary Manual. September 2024. Accessed April 8, 2025. https://www.merckvetmanual.com/toxicology/ethylene-glycol-toxicosis/ethylene-glycol-toxicosis-in-animals

Several cats living outdoors in a mobile home community died following consumption of tuna mixed with antifreeze and bleach

Investigation underway after cats are poisoned with antifreeze in Ohio

The FDA is making an unapproved antiparasitic and antimicrobial drug legally available for use with ornamental finfish such as goldfish, discus, koi, and tropical fish species. The drug Faunamor is used for treating 

, which is also known as “Ich” or “white spot disease,” in fish commonly kept as pets in home aquariums and hobby ponds.

Manufactured by Aquarium Münster Pahlsmeier GmbH in Telgte, Germany, Faunamor contains a trio of active ingredients including methylthionine chloride, malachite green oxalate and acriflavine chloride immersion solution. According to the FDA, Faunamor has been added to the FDA’s Index of Legally Marketed Unapproved New Animal Drugs for Minor Species and is the only legal drug for treating white spot disease that is currently on the market. It is available over the counter in 20 mL and 100 mL glass bottles. 

The parasite that causes white spot disease can be introduced into a pond, tank, or home aquarium simply by adding new fish or equipment that has been moved from another unit infected by 

. White spot disease is highly contagious, can spread rapidly between fish, and affects many types of ornamental fish. Infection outbreaks can kill all the fish in the tank, aquarium, or pond in a short time, according to the FDA.

Fish infected with white spot disease may appear weak or lethargic and not want to eat. However, the most common sign of infection is the presence of small, blister-like white spots on a fish’s skin or gills.

An expert panel evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Faunamor as part of the indexing process, which is a quicker and less expensive path to legal marketing status for certain products than the drug approval process. The indexing panel concluded that the benefits of using this drug outweigh its risks to ornamental finfish. Other unapproved drugs being used to treat white spot disease have not been reviewed by the FDA for safety and effectiveness, according to the agency.

FDA announces new drug treating common disease in ornamental pet fish. News release. FDA. April 8, 2025. Accessed April 8, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-announces-new-drug-treating-common-disease-ornamental-pet-fish?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

Drug for treating common disease in pet fish is now legally available

Only 26% of dairy producers and 13% to 42% of veterinarians provide adequate pain management to dairy cattle experiencing mastitis, a recognized painful condition, according to researchers. Mastitis is just one example showcasing the lack of pain control use in the dairy industry.

Pain in Dairy Cattle: A Narrative Review of the Need for Pain Control, Industry Practices and Stakeholder Expectations, and Opportunities

, summarizes common painful conditions and procedures in dairy cattle. It also covers quality assurance programs’ pain management recommendations and the uptake of pain management in practice.

Dairy cattle experience pain during necessary or unavoidable procedures and conditions such as dehorning, castration, abdominal surgery, lameness, and mastitis. Pain can decrease dairy production and increase animal distress, negatively impacting welfare. Quality assurance programs, including Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (USA), proAction (Canada), and Red Tractor (UK), have guidelines on pain management in dairy cattle; however, the industry has implemented recommended strategies inconsistently.

Signs and symptoms of pain in cattle include increased heart rate and cortisol, abnormal gait, reduced feed and milk intake, lethargy, and prolonged lying. If a cow exhibits any of these characteristics, it is crucial to mitigate pain. Appropriate pain alleviation methods recommended for common procedures (e.g., dehorning, castration, abdominal surgery) are local anesthetics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Recommendations for common conditions such as (e.g., lameness, mastitis) include NSAIDs, early intervention, and supportive therapy such as corrective hoof trimming and hoof blocks. Preferred NSAIDs in cattle are ketoprofen, meloxicam, and flunixin meglumine.

A standard approach as simple as giving an NSAID can significantly improve industry practice. Regardless, current levels of pain management administration by producers and veterinarians in Europe and North America are low. Only 24% to 35% of producers and 39% to 56% of veterinarians provide NSAIDs/systemic analgesia for dehorning, while 8% to 10% and 25% to 42% for castration; 80% and 60-75% for lameness, 61% to 98% and 61-77% for abdominal surgeries, and 26% and 13-42% for mastitis, respectively. Although these painful procedures and conditions are usual among cattle, pain does not need to be as common. Educating producers and veterinarians on the importance of pain management is the first step to closing the gap.

The study authors conclude further research is needed to identify and overcome barriers to adopting pain management strategies, which are vital to minimizing pain in animals and ensuring productive and sustainable dairy production.

, is a 2025 PharmD candidate from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy in Storrs.

Roche S, Saraceni J, Zehr L, Renaud D. Pain in dairy cattle: A narrative review of the need for pain control, industry practices and stakeholder expectations, and opportunities. 

Current levels of pain management administration by dairy producers and veterinarians in Europe and North America are low.